E145-Helmar #20 Dahlen, "Bad Bill", 21 yrs., .272 ave NEW YORK GIANTS

This is a recent, hand-made art card by HELMAR. If you are unfamiliar with Helmar, please read the full description. You may enjoy our blog, ; our Facebook page, The Helmar Baseball Art Card Company; or our website, .

"Bad Bill" Dahlen - William Frederick Dahlen was born on January 5, 1870 in Nelliston, NY. Nicknamed "Bad Bill" due to his fiery temperament.� Originally recommended by big leaguers Tom York and Joe Battin to Chicago Colts manager Cap Anson, "Bad Bill" Dahlen joining the Colts making his big league debut on April 22, 1891. Dahlen quickly developed into an excellent hitter, Bill batted .357 in 1894, with 107 RBI while also getting a hit in 42 consecutive games, with the streak beginning on June 20, 1894 and ending on August 6, 1894. Amazingly after going 0 for 6 on August 7, 1894 in a ten inning contest, Dahlen proceeded to hit in an additional 28 consecutive games bringing his hitting streak to 70 of 71 consecutive games. In 1896, Dahlen batted .352, good for second in the league.

This card is part of the E145-Helmar series. Each card is about 2.25" x 3" and there are 104 cards in the set. This E145-Helmar series will not be further extended from that number. The artwork was made using colored pencil and gouache. We are planning to offer a few different cards from the series each week until our supply is exhausted. The total production does not exceed 20 sets. They are available only as singles; never in full sets.

Helmar cards are printed on paper stock consistent with the most treasured card sets of the late 19th century, and early 20th century. Our cards are hand-distressed and treated, to give them a worn, well-loved look and feel, and a fresh, unique scent. We’ve hit a homer if it seems as if you are holding a vintage card in your hands.

All the original art is painted by our team. You won’t find it anywhere else. Our graphic artists choose the perfect poses and colors. We spend almost as much time creating the backs of the cards as the fronts. For our cards that display player information on the backs, our writers strive to create descriptions that transport you to the time of the player’s career. Everything we do is a time-gobbling labor of baseball-card love.

Helmar cards are not available in full sets. We generally offer a few different cards from each series each week. Since each card is handmade, no two look exactly the same. It might be two months, or more, before you see a particular card again. We have vowed not to sell more than six of each card per year. Checklists are available on our website.

Perhaps you’ve enjoyed some of our other projects, including cult favorite Helmar Big League Brew (winner of the Gold Medal at the 2005 World Beer Festival). Another popular project was making Helmar Potato Chips & Caramel Corn. Those snack products featured the well-known series of Helmar Famous Athletes trading cards (which are often found on eBay offered by other sellers).

Helmar is devoted to creating cards that echo a time when collecting wasn’t about the condition of the card, but about the essence of the player, his team, the era that the card represents, the beauty of the card, and what it all means to the collector. We hope that you win the Helmar cards that you will be bidding on. We believe that you will treasure them forever.